Professional Officer and Design Factory Centre Manager

Job Purpose

The Professional Officer and Design Factory Centre Manager plays a key role in advancing SIT’s mission to integrate learning, research, and innovation through design-led approaches. The position supports the management and strategic development of the Design Factory, leading human-centred research, applied innovation projects, and industry collaborations that bridge education and enterprise. The incumbent will apply design thinking, systems thinking, and future-oriented methods to guide multidisciplinary teams in creating impactful products, services, and experiences. This role also oversees project management, partner engagement, and operational administration to ensure the Centre’s effective delivery of teaching, research, and partnership outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Human Factors and User-Centred Research
  • Conduct applied research using design thinking, systems thinking, and futures methodologies.
  • Apply human factors and ergonomics to enhance product, service, and experience design outcomes.
  • Facilitate user studies, usability testing, and co-creation workshops.
  • Mentor students and project teams on user research and design process application.
• Product and Service Development
  • Lead or support innovation projects spanning physical and digital domains.
  • Translate research insights into design opportunities and prototypes.
  • Support iterative prototyping, testing, and validation with stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development of new tools, methods, and frameworks for design innovation.
• Partner and Business Development
  • Develop and manage relationships with industry, community, and government partners.
  • Identify collaboration opportunities and prepare proposals, project scopes, and agreements.
  • Represent the Design Factory in outreach, exhibitions, and partnership forums.
• Project Management
  • Plan, implement, and monitor multiple concurrent projects.
  • Manage budgets, procurement, and reporting for internal and external initiatives.
  • Ensure projects meet deliverables, quality standards, and compliance requirements.
• Administrative and Operational Duties
  • Oversee daily operations of the Design Factory, including facilities, safety, and scheduling.
  • Support academic delivery through preparation of learning resources, demonstrations, and supervision of student work.
  • Maintain records, documentation, and performance metrics for projects and collaborations.
• Strategic Planning and Execution
  • Contribute to strategic planning and long-term development of the Design Factory.
  • Identify opportunities for programme growth in human-centred design, circular innovation, and applied R&D.
  • Support institutional goals through cross-cluster collaboration and innovation leadership.

Job Requirements

• Degree in Design, Human Factors, Industrial Design, Engineering, Innovation Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in user-centred design, innovation consulting, or R&D.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement within an academic or industry context.
• Familiarity with design research methods, prototyping, and applied learning environments.
• Prior experience managing facilities, partnerships, or interdisciplinary teams is an advantage.